I like the Birmingham era Phillips and Hercules bikes. It was as if TI/Raleigh had to stick it to them by downgrading the brands when they acquired the brands around 1960. Few people realize how many Birmingham Hercules bikes were produced to be exported to the US in the early days. Most people figure anything English in the US is going to be a Raleigh or Raleigh sub-brand. They're missing out on the whole line of really interesting Birmingham bikes from Hercules, Phillips, and Norman.